The Vermont Supreme Court has rejected the
appeal of a slain 12-year-old girl's father, who claimed the ex-wife of the
suspect was negligent in his daughter's death and that her insurance company
should pay damages.

Reporter Andy Bromage of Seven Days explains the rulings and the next steps in the criminal trial of Michael Jacques, the Randolph man accused of kidnapping, assaulting and murdering his 12-year-old niece.

A federal judge says prosecutors may continue
to pursue the death penalty against a convicted sex offender charged with
luring his 12-year-old niece to his Vermont home with the promise of a pool party before
molesting and strangling her.

Legislative committees would be given power to subpoena
witnesses under a bill approved by the state Senate. Under current law, the only way committees can force a
witness to testify is if the full Legislature approves a subpoena.

Two out-of-state
lawyers have joined the defense team of Michael Jacques, in anticipation that
federal prosecutors will seek the death penalty against the man accused of
kidnapping 12-year-old Brooke Bennett.

Here are the top stories at 7:30 a.m.:
This year's
gubernatorial candidates have taken very different
approaches to releasing their financial data;
The probation
officer who supervised the man accused of abducting 12-year-old Brooke Bennett
says he felt compelled to recommend the release of Michael Jacques from
probation on an earlier conviction;
Young baseball
players from New
Hampshire and Vermont leave today for Cuba...

Governor Jim Douglas is leading the race for campaign cash;
Prosecutors in the Brooke Bennett case get more time t make their case ; State
Police warn of a false Amber Alert text message; Douglas Administration unveils
a plan to supply low-income Vermonters with wood; The first-ever Vermont Barn
Census is this weekend; and commentator Tom Slayton on the compost controversy.

Here are the top stories at 7:30 a.m.:
It's unlikely the governor will call a
special session in the wake of the Brooke Bennett case;
Police are
searching for about two dozen convicted sex offenders who couldn't be found
during a recent sweep of Chittenden County; Progressive Party candidate Anthony Pollina says
he's decided to run as an Independent candidate this fall...